why be a digital nomad

Digital Nomading is something you may have heard along the grapevine or even possibly Google’d (welcome, if you just did). What is it?

Digital Nomad’s are people who choose location independent businesses operating as freelancers or business owners globally. They take on contracts and clients who allow them the freedom to work remotely and they use that to find travel/life freedom.

That said, there are varying types of Digital Nomads.

“Expat Style Nomads”
Some choose to be location independent but intentionally settle in parts of the world that appeal to them, have cheaper accommodation/costs of living, etc. These people are nomads who “settle” in locations from 1-3mths typically or up to a few years if they so desire. I happen to be one of these people. I enjoy being “settled” into a location while I work and live but not be tied to it. Short-term rentals, hotels, hostels or even villas work just fine for me and within a few months, I can head wherever else I choose without losing steam. I often find myself taking a contract, finishing it in one location and then moving on for my next adventure.

“Traveler Nomads”
These folks don’t settle anywhere for long. Think a few days to a couple of weeks maximum. They run their businesses while traveling the globe and prefer campervans, hostels, and tents over hotels or rental hideaways. Always on the move, one day they can be blogging from Paris and the next working with wild orangutans in Borneo. I’ve done this life too, and loved it, but for me, it got exhausting (and expensive to sustain).

The next most popular question when it comes to being a Digital Nomad is “what do you do for work?”. The answer is as varied as the type of people choosing a nomad lifestyle.

Whatever way you choose to become location independent here’s a few things I wish I had known before taking the leap:

1. Have a contingency plan. While it’s dreamy to just picture quitting your job and jetting off to explore the globe, digital nomad work isn’t always steady which means you need to plan ahead for times of financial lows.

2. Get health insurance. Wherever you go, if your health fails, you’ll be needing insurance. Trust me. After breaking my ankle in Colorado and facing a $20k bill to have it reset & braced… I’ve learned my very expensive lesson.

3. Tell people! It sounds romantic (and fun!) to jet off into the great blue yonder but I’ve learned from experience, it’s better to have a few souls who know where you’ve been and where you’re headed. Call it “checking in”.

4. Wifi isn’t always easy to find (or cheap) so plan to spend some money getting access to the internet whether via cellphone tethering or investing in your own wifi stick. The cost of doing business. Also, it may not be as strong a signal as home so plan timelines accordingly.

5. Plan your days. Just like in a regular job, if you don’t plan your days accordingly and actually DO the work that clients are paying you for – you’ll be losing money… quickly. So make a plan. For me, I work mornings and play in late afternoon/evenings. It makes me more productive (especially with timezone challenges) and I get to have some fun too.

Ready to become a Digital Nomad? I would love to hear from you! Where’s your first stop and what kind of nomad do you plan on being? What job will you pursue? Good luck!